---
id: "coronavirus-smarter-crowdsourcing:strategies/Establish-a-single-organization-to-manage-and-over"
type: "GovLab policy strategy"
title: "Establish a single organization to manage and oversee the UHI/NPI system."
url: "https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/establish-a-single-organization-to-manage-and-over"
summary: "Establish a single organization to manage and oversee the UHI/NPI system. Governments should establish a single organization with the responsibility to oversee and advise on ways to improve patient matching and incorporate new technologies and approaches as they emerge. This organization would identify and encourage adoption of certain standards—such as on biometrics or use of smartphones—by health care organizations and technology developers."
source: "The GovLab (coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# Establish a single organization to manage and oversee the UHI/NPI system.

Establish a single organization to manage and oversee the UHI/NPI system. Governments should establish a single organization with the responsibility to oversee and advise on ways to improve patient matching and incorporate new technologies and approaches as they emerge. This organization would identify and encourage adoption of certain standards—such as on biometrics or use of smartphones—by health care organizations and technology developers.

- Timeframe: 1+ years (structural change)
- Audience: Government Workers
- Type: Policy/Legislative/Regulatory, Data, Partnerships
- Recommendation: [National Patient Identifiers](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations/national-patient-identifiers)
- Part of: [Smarter Crowdsourcing in the Age of Coronavirus](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/)

## Actions governments should take

1. Appoint a special advisor on health informatics to oversee the development of identifier projects for the interim until an organization is established and functioning
2. Identify the preferred organizational affiliation of this group and how it will fit into existing government agencies and structures
3. Coordinate with international partners to learn about best practices and key steps for development and implementation